Pricking old wounds
When netball star Mwawi Kumwenda was recalled into camp after being dropped in controversial circumstances, I had hope that our festering wounds would heal, but it would appear the war is far from over.
It is like Netball Association of Malawi (Nam) finds pleasure in embroiling itself in more controversies.
The unrepentant Nam has now decided to fight the media in protest against the critical stories that have been broadcast and written about their sloppy decision to drop the star player ahead of the recent Fast5 Netball World Series in Australia.
A gag order has been issued secretly to stop talking to Times Group sports desk which has been in the forefront trying to knock sense into the Nam Executive Committee’s heads on the issue of Mwawi.
Nam executive should be told in no uncertain terms that Times Group has a pedigree of a media empire which does not wilt in the thick of things.
Experience has shown that Times can do without Nam but Nam cannot do without Times Group because whatever is happening now has happened before.
This decision confirms that there are still some traits of arrogance permeating in Nam’s hierarchy. They have become people poisoned with so much negativity and are writing a chapter they will not erase.
After all, it is not surprising that the Queens’ Coach, Mary Waya, a tactician who has never won any major trophy on the domestic netball scene, has decided to bar the media from covering training sessions.
Mary has suddenly forgotten that just a few years ago, when she was a player, we used to cover her training sessions without coaches’ impediments.
There are coaches who deserve to be at the helm of the Queens but for obvious reasons they are not considered, and yet it is the nation that is paying the price.
This week, I wanted to concentrate on those much-touted tired legs masquerading as experienced Flames players who featured during the strength- testing match against Lesotho in Lilongwe last week.
To be fair, national team coach Ronny van Geneugden (RVG) did well to recall those players so that those who still had trust in them should see it for themselves.
Those who watched them play can agree with me that some of the old guards do not deserve to be in the squad.
From the bunch of those forgotten players, I would only go for Robin Ngalande and Chiukepo Msowoya, otherwise it is a sheer waste of time and resources to be calling the rest.
Last week Saturday, we all saw how the game changed in the second-half when the squad was dominated by the youngsters comprising substitute Dalitso Sailesi and Stanley Sanudi. Up-and-coming centre-back Dennis Chembezi and Chikoti Chirwa, also deserve mention.
RVG needs to build the team around two or three experienced players; midfielder Robert Ng’ambi, defender Limbikani Mzava and possibly striker Chiukepo Msowoya if what I watched last Saturday in Lilongwe is anything to go by.
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